Peter Fesperanto Fessler - Lovers, Fools And Dreams

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:25
Size: 111,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:25)  1. If You Never Come To Me
(5:02)  2. Strangers In The Night
(4:07)  3. Blue Moon
(4:56)  4. Memories of Moments
(5:21)  5. Hello
(4:15)  6. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(4:13)  7. Agua De Beber
(4:51)  8. I Remember You
(4:10)  9. My Romance
(4:35) 10. Poinciana
(3:25) 11. I Wish You Love

Born in Cologne, Germany, and at the age of twelve, he began studying jazz guitar with his supporter and mentor Rick Abao. At the age of 20 he crossed the Atlantic for the first time, embarking on a musical journey that would take him into the world of sessions. Upon his return to Europe, Fessler began a concentrated shortstudy of jazz vocal technique at the renowned Cologne Music Conservatory. Soon after, Fessler became the front man and voice of the succesfull TRIO RIO - group (New York-Rio-Tokyo). Since his return to Europe he has continued to tour, performing live on the concert stage and logging numerous television and radio productions along the way. Fessler's voice can be heard by children all over Germany in the title role of the Walt Disney film "Aladdin", the German version. Following the release of his recording "Don't Tell Me", Fessler dedicated his next album-recordings to jazz and latin-jazz repertoire while simultaneously exploring the territory covered by his own compositions. Since his spectacular duet performance with Al Jarreau at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Peter Fessler has been considered the premiere jazz voice of Germany.

Randy Crawford, Bobby Mc Ferrin, Toots Thielemanns, and many other stars also recognize his unique talent and singular ability. As one of the next generation's jazz stars, he has earned his place on the international stage untill today. Fessler's recent recording and his performance as a "solophonic" musician is a breathtaking fusion of voice and classical guitar. He has found the perfect sound asthetic: High emotional, fascinating and virtuoso.

It all started for German-Canadian Peter Fessler in 1987 with the Top 10 hit "New York, Rio, Tokyo" and the band Trio Rio. Even then many of his breezy pop miniatures bore the influence of Bossa Nova legend Antonio Carlos Jobim. Today Fessler is regarded without a doubt as the most competent interpreter of modern Brazilian sounds in our European climes. A relocation to San Francisco made a decisive mark on him, promptly expressed in songs with a quintessential California "easy feeling".These years of artistic self-searching in the realms of Latin pop, jazz standards, Bach vocalizing or just the barest guitar accompanying his song miniatures have made him a sound to be reckoned with. Nowadays making his home near Cologne, Germany, the inimitably personal style of multi-voice FESSLER is ranked as the European counterpart to such grand masters as Jon Hendricks, Al Jarreau or Bobby McFerrin. Bio ~ http://www.mymusicbase.ru/PPB/ppb35/Bio_3548.htm

Lovers, Fools And Dreams

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Randy Brecker - Hangin' In The City

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:46
Size: 141,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:07)  1. Overture
(4:26)  2. Wayne Out
(5:43)  3. Hangin' in the City
(7:18)  4. I Talk to the Trees
(4:38)  5. Down For the Count
(7:09)  6. Pastoral (to Jaco)
(5:25)  7. Then I Came 2 My Senses
(5:21)  8. Seattle
(4:56)  9. Never Tell Her U Love Her (Less She's 3000 Miles Away)
(5:55) 10. I Been Through This Before
(5:43) 11. One Thing Led to Another

This album is not at all representative of Randy Brecker's "normal" output as a jazz trumpeter. Subtitled "Songs of Rhyme, Reason, Romance & Raunch," it marks the debut of "Randroid," a sort of alter-ego fashioned from a nickname given to Brecker some years before by alto saxophonist Gary Bartz. Taking on this shady, decadent persona, Brecker sings and raps about sexual exploits, partying, and other aspects of the musician lifestyle. Musically, the result is somewhere between Frank Zappa and Donald Fagen. Lyrically, it's really kind of bizarre, at times downright embarrassing. But once you get over the shock, you find that the tracks are actually pretty hip. Producer George Whitty handles keyboards and drum programming throughout, giving the disc a contemporary urban funk feel.

Brecker blows a mean trumpet and flügelhorn and is joined by brother Michael Brecker on tenor sax, bassists Chris Minh Doky, Richard Bona, and Will Lee, guitarists Adam Rogers, Dean Brown, and Hiram Bullock, and more. Four of the 11 tracks are instrumental. The cheesy sexual double entendre of "Then I Came 2 My Senses" and the Lolita fantasy of "One Thing Led to Another" are pretty near unforgivable, but the hip beats, involved harmonies, and searing Adam Rogers guitar solos on "Wayne Out" and "Seattle" are redeeming. George Whitty's Rhodes solo on "Never Tell Her You Love Her ('Less She's 3000 Miles Away)" is also one of the hotter moments. ~ David R.Adler http://www.allmusic.com/album/hanging-in-the-city-mw0000006440

Personnel: Trumpet/Flugelhorn & Pre-Production Programming by Randy Becker; all lead vocals by Randroid. Randy Brecker: trumpet, flugelhorn; Michael Brecker: tenor saxophone; George Whitty: keyboards and programming; Hiram Bullock: guitar, background vocals; Adam Rogers: guitar; Dean Brown: guitar; Joe Caro: guitar; Chris Minh Doky: acoustic and electric bass; Will Lee: electric bass, background vocals; Richard Bona: electric bass; Joe Locke: vibraphone; Don Alias: percussion; Mike Harvey: background vocals; Katreese Barnes: background vocals; and Randroid!

Hangin' In The City

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Cornell Dupree - Mr 2500 - Live at Birdland

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 75:34
Size: 138,8 MB
Art: Front

( 8:07)  1. Them Changes
(17:00)  2. The Ghetto
( 6:43)  3. Pick Up the Pieces
(11:00)  4. What's Going On?
( 7:25)  5. Something
( 6:29)  6. Bass Instinct
( 6:32)  7. Spirit in the Dark
( 5:52)  8. Memphis Soul Stew
( 6:21)  9. Watching the River Flow

A veteran of over 2,500 recording sessions, guitarist Cornell Dupree worked most prolifically in R&B and blues, but he was equally at home in jazz, particularly funky fusion and soul-jazz. Dupree was born in Fort Worth, TX, in 1942, and by the age of 20 was playing in King Curtis' R&B group. He became a session musician soon after, playing on Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia," as well as records by stars like Lou Rawls, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, Roberta Flack, Joe Cocker, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, and countless others. 

Dupree was also a member of Aretha Franklin's touring band from 1967-1976, and during that time also became a presence on many jazz-funk recordings, the sort that would find favor with rare groove and acid jazz fans in the years to come. Dupree's first jazz session as a leader was 1974's Teasin', which was followed by Saturday Night Fever in 1977, and Shadow Dancing in 1978. During the same period, Dupree was a member of the studio-musician fusion supergroup Stuff, which signed with Warner Bros. in 1975 and recorded four albums. 

They also reunited periodically in the '80s and spawned a mid-'80s spin-off group called the Gadd Gang, which Dupree also belonged to. Some of Dupree's most rewarding jazz albums came in the late '80s and early '90s; 1988's Coast to Coast was nominated for a Grammy, and funky sessions like 1991's Can't Get Through, 1992's live Uncle Funky, and 1993's Child's Play received positive reviews. 1994's Bop 'n' Blues was his most straight-ahead jazz album, also ranking as one of his best. Bio ~ Steve Huey  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cornell-dupree-mn0000118597/biography

Live at Birdland

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Mike Mainieri - Wanderlust

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:52
Size: 112,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:47)  1. Bullet Train
(8:20)  2. Bamboo
(4:32)  3. Flying Colours
(7:59)  4. L' Image
(5:50)  5. Pep's
(6:38)  6. Crossed Wires
(7:31)  7. Sara's Touch
(3:11)  8. Wanderlust

A real killer from vibesman Mike Mainieri a set that's got a darker edge than some of his previous work, while still hanging onto all the warm touches of his own instrument in the lead! Backings are full, but never uptight and there's a loosness to the record that really works well with the vibes an electric mode that's warm and often a bit spontaneous – served up with help from Warren Bernhardt and Don Grolnick on keyboards, Jeremy Steig on flute, and Kazuo Watanabe on guitar! Tunes are pretty darn fresh some really inventive writing that pushes the edges, but not in a jamming fusion way and titles include "Crossed Wires", "Bullet Train", "L'Image", "Flying Colours", "Wanderlust", and "Bamboo". https://www.dustygroove.com/item/766346

Personnel: Mike Mainieri (vibraphone, marimba, percussion); Kazumi Watanabe, Steve Khan (guitar); Manolo Badrena (berimbau, percussion); Jeremy Steig (flute); Michael Brecker (saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet); Randy Brecker (trumpet); Warren Bernhardt (piano, synthesizer); Don Grolnick (keyboards); Ed Walsh (synthesizer); Peter Erskine (drums); Roger Squitero, Sammy Figueroa (percussion).

Wanderlust

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Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Comin' On Home

Styles: Soul Jazz, Jazz Funk
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:35
Size: 81,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:09)  1. Groovin' For Mr. G
(3:34)  2. Theme From "Love Story"
(5:00)  3. Mr. Clean
(5:17)  4. Down Home Funk
(6:42)  5. Don't Mess With Me
(5:45)  6. Wave
(5:04)  7. This Here

Revered in soul-jazz circles, Richard "Groove" Holmes was an unapologetically swinging Jimmy Smith admirer who could effortlessly move from the grittiest of blues to the most sentimental of ballads. Holmes, a very accessible, straightforward and warm player who was especially popular in the black community, had been well respected on the Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey circuit by the time he signed with Pacific Jazz in the early '60s and started receiving national attention by recording with such greats as Ben Webster and Gene Ammons. Holmes, best known for his hit 1965 version of "Misty," engaged in some inspired organ battles with Jimmy McGriff in the early '70s before turning to electric keyboards and fusion-ish material a few years later. The organ was Holmes' priority in the mid- to late '80s, when he recorded for Muse (he also had stints throughout his career with Prestige Records and Groove Merchant) . Holmes was still delivering high-quality soul-jazz for Muse (often featuring tenor titan Houston Person) when a heart attack claimed his life at the age of 60 in 1991 after a long struggle with prostrate cancer. He was a musician to the end, playing his last shows in a wheelchair. ~ Alex Henderson & Steve Leggett https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/richard-groove-holmes/id65745449#fullText

Personnel:  Bass [Electric] – Jerry Jemmott;  Congas – Ray Armando;  Drums – Darryh Washington;  Electric Piano – Weldon Irvine;  Guitar – Gerald Hubbard;  Organ – Richard Groove Holmes

Comin' On Home

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Maria Bethânia - My Backyard

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:33
Size: 95.1 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz vocals
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:26] 1. Alguma Voz [any Voice]
[2:20] 2. Xavante
[4:03] 3. Casa De Caboclo [caboclo's House]
[2:00] 4. Lua Bonita [beautiful Moon]
[2:27] 5. Candeeiro Velho [old Candeleer]
[4:39] 6. Imbelezô Eu Vento De Lá [embellished Me Wind From There]
[2:24] 7. Mãe Maria [mother Maria]
[4:12] 8. Uma Lara Uma Perigosa Yara [a Lara A Dangerous Yara]
[1:51] 9. Moda Da Onça
[3:03] 10. Povos Do Brasil [people Of Brazil]
[3:07] 11. Arco Da Velha Índia [bow Of Old India]
[3:43] 12. Folia De Reis [folly Of Kings]
[3:11] 13. Dindi

This disc, recorded, according to the liner notes, as a way of relieving the emotional turmoil after the death of her mother at 105, focuses attention on her national heritage, "voices of the past that formed part of the creation of Brazil. personified in Bethania's artistic life." It also contains, as a bonus track the one song that may be recognizable to American audiences unfamiliar with Brazilian music, Tom Jobim and Aloysio de Oliveria's "Dindi."

While there is no denying that a knowledge of Portuguese would significantly add to the appreciation of Bethania's music, it is equally undeniable that the emotional honesty of her vocals comes through in spite of any language gap. She has a beautiful voice that exudes passionate intensity. There is a reason she has made all those albums, whatever the language. This is a woman who can sing.

My Backyard

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The Rascals - The Essentials

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:32
Size: 79.1 MB
Styles: AM pop/rock, Blue eyed soul
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[2:39] 1. I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore
[2:27] 2. Good Lovin'
[2:24] 3. You Better Run
[2:04] 4. I've Been Lonely Too Long
[2:27] 5. Groovin'
[2:44] 6. A Girl Like You
[2:51] 7. How Can I Be Sure
[2:41] 8. It's Wonderful
[2:32] 9. A Beautiful Morning
[2:57] 10. People Got To Be Free
[3:39] 11. Ray Of Hope
[5:00] 12. See

Shifting from psychedelic pop to blue-eyed soul with only the passionate wail of Felix Cavaliere reminding you that the same band was capable of all this, The Essentials is a nice little combination of the Rascals' many different phases. Smooth and sexy one moment, tense and discordant the next, this does an excellent job of displaying their talents as well as including several of their most recognizable songs. Released on the heels of the superior All I Really Need compilation, this is still a nice grouping of songs that isn't as detailed as it could be, but would work well for fans of their radio work. ~Bradley Torreano

The Essentials

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Mike Mainieri - Northern Lights

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:19
Size: 138,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:55)  1. Nature Boy
(7:38)  2. Poochie Pie
(7:44)  3. I've Seen It All
(8:14)  4. Vertigo
(6:55)  5. Flamenco Sketches
(6:06)  6. Naima
(5:08)  7. Dance of Ran
(5:55)  8. Bang
(4:39)  9. Remembrance

Vibraphonist Mike Mainieri has never garnered the same attention as Gary Burton, five years his junior, despite being equally cutting edge. Mainieri was one of fusion's early progenitors: Journey Through an Electric Tube (Solid State, 1968) and White Elephant (Solid State, 1969) explored new ways to incorporate a rock aesthetic with jazz. But while Burton has settled into a more mainstream comfort zone in recent years, Mainieri continues to test new waters. Northern Lights teams him with the "Norwegian Posse" a veritable who's who of the contemporary Norwegian scene. The result blends the groove and ambience of nu jazz with a somewhat more emphatic approach to soloing.  Northern Lights features four-fifths of trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer's group including Molvaer, guitar soundscapist Eyvind Aarset, live sampler/beat programmer Jan Bang and turntablist DJ Strangefruit so it's no surprise that the disc leans heavily toward atmosphere and a generally more selfless approach emphasizing the collective rather than any individual. Drummer Anders Engen (a regular collaborator with the also-present keyboardist Bugge Wesseltoft) and Swedish bassist Lars Danielsson form a rhythm section that's more straightforward than typically found in nu jazz. Still, while the program includes a trio of standards alongside Mainieri's compositions and a Bjork song, the treatments are anything but conventional.

"Nature Boy," which opens the disc with a gentle reggae groove, is a strong feature for both Molvaer and Mainieri's lyrical, less-is-more approach. Miles Davis' "Flamenco Sketches" is propelled by a gentle backbeat, while John Coltrane's "Naima" is given an Afro-centric reading, thanks to Paolo Vinacchia's hand drums and Mainieri's marimba. The vibe is cool, but not the Nordic cool that's more a stereotypical misconception these days. Relaxed in approach, Mainieri is surrounded by a group of musicians whose command of electronics and processing is so well-integrated that it feels completely organic and, in the case of those playing "conventional" instruments, a thoroughly natural extension. Mainieri's writing ranges from the techno-centric "Poochie Pie" to the Latin-esque "Vertigo" and the snaky groove of "Dance of Ran." "Bang" is dancefloor-ready; saxophonist Bendik Hofseth's solo sound like a funky and energetic extension of Jan Garbarek's earlier years. One could imagine Mainieri playing the balladic "Remembrance" with his Steps Ahead group, but here the added string quartet and atmospherics provided by Bang, Strangefruit and Aarset take it to a more ethereal place. While the cross-pollination of artists from around the world is becoming more common, too few recorded documents exist. The ever-adaptable Mainieri fits perfectly within the sphere of nu jazz's equally malleable improvisational take on electronica. Hopefully Northern Lights will bring well-deserved North American attention to the "Norwegian Posse" and, by extension, the entire vibrant and forward-thinking Scandinavian scene. ~ John Kelman http://www.allaboutjazz.com/northern-lights-mike-mainieri-nyc-records-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Mike Mainieri: vibraphone, marimba; Nils Petter Molvaer: trumpet; Bendik Hofseth: saxophones; Bugge Wesseltoft: keyboards, synths, acoustic and prepared piano; Eyvind Aarset: electric guitar; Lars Danielsson: bass; Anders Engen: drums; Paolo Vinaccia: percussion; Jan Bang: live sampling, beat programming; DJ Strangefruit: turntables.

Northern Lights

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Peter Fesperanto Fessler & NDR Big Band - I Concentrate On You

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:09
Size: 124,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. My One and Only Love
(4:46)  2. You Go to My Head
(5:12)  3. Triste
(5:44)  4. I Concentrate On You
(7:11)  5. Here's to Life
(5:29)  6. My Foolish Heart
(5:21)  7. The Gentle Rain
(4:54)  8. Voices On the Stair
(7:24)  9. Dindi
(3:07) 10. Not Like This

Fessler received with 12 years of his discoverer and mentor Rick Abao the first guitar lessons in jazz and Brazilian music. After leaving school, followed by a longer stay in the USA, where he continued dedicated to the music. The singer with Canadian - Polish - German roots played sessions in clubs, bars and hotels in New York and San Francisco. During this period also first own compositions. Back in Germany began Fessler, whose voice four octaves includes, studying for vocal jazz seminar of the Musikhochschule in Cologne and was from 1983 to 1987 the singer of Trio Rio, a Latin jazz band, in 1986 by the hit New York-Rio Tokyo became known. Then Fessler worked with a trio consisting of Berthold Matschat at the piano, Gunnar Plümer on bass and drummer Matthias hull. In order to realize his own musical ideas further, it drew Fessler for some time back in the United States, where he devoted himself to writing songs and, inter alia, with Sheila E. and Chaka Khan worked.

The renewed return to Germany followed in 1991, the first solo album My songs and various concerts and radio and TV productions. Fessler was the German voice of Aladdin in the same Walt Disney production. Here, the song was created by a True Story, a duet with Sabine Hettlich. After publication of the 1993 album Do not Tell Me is Fessler dedicated mainly a jazz and Latin jazz repertoire and composed his own pieces. On the 2000 album Signatures exclusively own compositions were. Al Jarreau took him at the Montreux Jazz Festival with his guitar as a duet partner on stage.Moreover Fessler Special Guest was with Randy Crawford's 1999's tour. He joined the end of 2003 in Tokyo. With its fusion of voice and classical guitar he has since found a new sound aesthetic. On his album The with you (2010) he interprets German poetry by Miriam Frances, Erich Kastner and Alexander Bragao. On the album Spirit of Christmas (2013) from Pee Wee Ellis, he interpreted the pop classic Last Christmas. Translate by google https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Fessler

I Concentrate On You

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Nils Landgren - Redhorn Collection Part I And II

Album: Nils Landgren - Redhorn Collection Part I
Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:29
Size: 150,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:15)  1. Traci (Live)
(3:52)  2. Simple Life
(6:15)  3. You Dig
(4:50)  4. Da Fonk
(5:40)  5. Six Beauties On a Rooftop
(5:06)  6. Riders On the Storm
(4:27)  7. Knowing Me, Knowing You
(5:05)  8. House Party
(5:39)  9. Stuff Like That
(1:19) 10. Kibera Sunrise
(5:34) 11. Mag Runs the Voodoo Down
(4:54) 12. Get Serious Get a Job
(3:42) 13. Ain't Nobody (Live)
(3:43) 14. Ack Waermland Due Skoena (Live)

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Album: Nils Landgren - Redhorn Collection Part II
Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:09
Size: 128,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Song from the Valley
(2:51)  2. Love of My Life (feat. Michael Wollny, Lars Danielsson, Johan Norberg & Rasmus Kihlberg)
(4:07)  3. This Masquerade
(4:45)  4. The Moon's a Harsh Mistress
(4:40)  5. Silent Way (feat. Nils Landgren, Lars Danielsson, Sebastian Studnitzky & Frank Kuruc)
(4:02)  6. Fire and Rain (feat. Nils Landgren)
(6:51)  7. Fragile
(3:50)  8. Imagine (Live)
(6:05)  9. You Stole My Heart (feat. Esbjorn Svensson Trio)
(6:23) 10. The Brightest Smile in Town
(4:31) 11. I Will Survive
(4:22) 12. Get Here

Swedish funk and jazz trombone player Nils Landgren spent his formative years at the music college in Karlstad and at the university in Arvika studying classical trombone. He discovered improvisation after a meeting with jazz legends Bengt-Arne Wallin and Eje Thelin and moved to Stockholm, after which he toured with Swedish pop phenomena Björn Skifs ("Hooked on a Feeling"). 

Since then, Landgren has appeared on some 500 albums, including collections from artists as diverse as Herbie Hancock, ABBA, the Crusaders, and Wyclef Jean. He released his debut solo album (Planet Rock ) in 1983, followed by a string of successful titles including Streetfighter, You Are My Nr 1, Miles from Duke, Chapter 2, and Follow Your Heart. In 1992 he formed the Nils Landgren Funk Unit, which has released numerous recordings including Live in Stockholm, Fonk da World, 5,000 Miles, and Funky ABBA. ~ James Christopher Monger https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/nils-landgren/id252465524#fullText

Redhorn Collection Part I, Part II

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The Australian Jazz Quintet - At The Varsity Drag

Styles: Jazz, Swing
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:18
Size: 81,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:06)  1. Alone Together
(3:07)  2. Koala
(3:09)  3. That Old Feeling
(3:05)  4. Affaire D'amour
(3:05)  5. The Lady Is A Tramp
(3:50)  6. Lover Man
(2:42)  7. The Thrill Is Gone
(2:42)  8. New South Wail
(2:57)  9. Few Get It
(3:06) 10. So Nice
(2:43) 11. Varsity Drag
(2:40) 12. It Might As Well Be Spring

In the mid-'50s, the Australian Jazz Quartet were considered an unusual group since, in addition to piano, bass, and drums, their instrumentation had alto or flute, tenor or bassoon, and vibes. The band featured their own sly wit, which is often in evidence on this collection of tunes, particularly on "Varsity Drag." In addition to seven standards (including "Alone Together," "The Lady Is a Tramp," and "It Might As Well Be Spring"), the Aussies play three songs by Bill Holman, one from Med Flory, and an obscurity. 

The blend of bassoon, flute, and vibes in some sections is quite memorable even if the music overall was not all that innovative. Although a touch lightweight (with each of the selections clocking in around three minutes apiece), the results are enjoyable. 

~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-australian-jazz-quintet-at-the-varsity-drag-mw0000050371

Personnel: Dick Healey (alto saxophone, flute); Erroll Buddle (tenor saxophone, bassoon); Jack Brokensha (vibraphone); Bryce Rohde (piano); Jimmy Gannon (bass); Frankie Capp (drums).

Thank You my friend!

At The Varsity Drag

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Gerry Mulligan - Jazz Masters 36

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:55
Size: 157.8 MB
Styles: West Coast jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[ 4:37] 1. You Took Advantage Of Me
[ 3:47] 2. Manoir De Mes Reves Django's Castle
[ 6:08] 3. Lady Chatterley's Mother
[ 5:28] 4. Barbara's Theme
[10:54] 5. Blueport
[ 5:59] 6. Weep
[ 9:42] 7. All About Rosie
[ 4:43] 8. Chuggin'
[ 4:32] 9. Summer's Over
[ 3:07] 10. Israel
[ 4:12] 11. Ballad
[ 5:40] 12. Big City Blues

Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band was one of the great bands of the early 1960s--of all time, really. Mulligan, whose big band (and small big band) experience went back to Gene Krupa and the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool recordings, expanded and enlarged on the sound of his quartet, sextet, and tentets in the Concert Jazz Band. This album contains a dozen cuts from the four albums the band made for Verve between 1960 and late 1962. (There are several other excellent CDs currently available, from the band's European tour in late 1960 and from an appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival earlier that year.)

Highlights of this collection include Al Cohn's wonderful sax section writing on "Lady Chatterley's Mother," the interplay between Mulligan and Clark Terry on the definitive "Blueport," and George Russell's arrangement of "All About Rosie." In addition to Mulligan (who plays piano on "Chuggin'"--he's a wonderful piano player--and clarinet on "Big City Blues") and Terry, soloists include Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone and piano), Don Ferrara on trumpet, and Jim Reider on tenor. Mel Lewis is the drummer who makes it all happen, on all but the final recording date. That one, released as "Gerry Mulligan 1963" (although recorded in December 1962), presents a band with a somewhat different, perhaps more arranged, sound, but it includes Jim Hall on guitar. If you can find a copy of the now-discontinued Verve Compact Jazz CD of the Concert Jazz Band, you'll have a pretty complete representation of the band's official recordings. The older collection includes three cuts that are sadly missing from this one: Zoot Sims' great solos on "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "Apple Core," and Mulligan's delightful piano outing on "Let My People Be." This is a great band. Savor what's available. ~Amazon

Jazz Masters 36

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Catherine Russell - Bring It Back

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:21
Size: 108.4 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:51] 1. Bring It Back
[2:28] 2. I'm Shooting High
[4:05] 3. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
[3:07] 4. You Got To Swing And Sway
[4:38] 5. Aged And Mellow
[2:37] 6. The Darktown Strutter's Ball
[3:52] 7. Lucille
[2:36] 8. You've Got Me Under Your Thumb
[5:20] 9. After The Lights Go Down Low
[3:04] 10. I'm Sticking With You Baby
[3:28] 11. Strange As It Seems
[3:10] 12. Public Melody Number One
[4:59] 13. I Cover The Waterfront

Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was born in Panama, emigrated to New Orleans and then New York City, becoming a legendary pianist/bandleader/arranger/composer, and Louis Armstrong’s long-time collaborator and musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering bassist/guitarist/vocalist and holder of advanced degrees from Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music, who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Ruth Brown. Not surprisingly considering her pedigree, Catherine Russell is a one of a kind musician and vocalist. A graduate of American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Catherine has toured the world, performing and recording with David Bowie, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash, Carrie Smith, and many others.

Catherine's 5th album, Bring It Back hit the streets in February 2014 on the Jazz Village label, and received a rave Five Star review in Downbeat Magazine. With her new album, Catherine Russell digs deeper into a rich vein of musical treasures. Mining collaborations between her legendary father, Luis Russell, and the great Louis Armstrong, Catherine brings along the same team from her two previous chart-topping albums. Gems from the Jazz Age and Swing Era performed with new arrangements for 10 piece orchestra, blend seamlessly with reinventions sourced from Blues icons Esther Phillips, Al Hibbler, Wynonie Harris, and Little Willie John.

Catherine Russell is that rarest of entities – a genuine jazz and blues singer – who can sing virtually anything. Her voice is full blown feminity incarnate; a dusky, stalwart and soulful instrument that radiates interpretive power yet remains touchingly vulnerable. She launches fearlessly into each tune, getting inside the melody and capturing every emotion. Her repertoire features a selection of gems from the 1920's through the Present; vital interpretations, bursting with soul and humor. With an off-the beaten-path song selection, sparkling acoustic swing, and a stunning vocal approach, Catherine Russell joins the ranks of the greatest interpreters and performers of American Popular Song.

Bring It Back

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Marshall Royal - Gordon Jenkins Presents Marshall Royal

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:41
Size: 95.4 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1960/2007
Art: Front

[2:13] 1. Caravan
[3:18] 2. Ain't Misbehavin'
[3:26] 3. Birth Of The Blues
[4:52] 4. Take The A Train
[3:23] 5. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
[4:27] 6. Intermezzo
[3:24] 7. Blue Prelude
[2:43] 8. Battle Royal
[3:28] 9. Goodbye
[2:46] 10. Pagan Love Song
[3:30] 11. Black Coffee
[4:05] 12. Blues For Beverly

Altoist Marshall Royal led relatively few sessions in his career, just three full albums of his own, with the second one not released until 1978. For this project from 1960, Royal, who was still with Count Basie's big band, is backed by a string section, an occasional choral group (which sometimes gets in the way), and a rhythm section (partly from Basie's orchestra) on arrangements by Gordon Jenkins. Jenkins was best known for his lush charts for commercial settings, and the music on this CD reissue is not that much of a stretch for him. He essentially frames Royal's alto as if it was a voice. Royal, who sounds a lot like Johnny Hodges, plays well on the concise performances although much of the time he sticks near the melody. There are a few medium-tempo numbers included but this is mostly a ballad set. The overall results are nice if not particularly challenging. ~Scott Yanow

Gordon Jenkins Presents Marshall Royal

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Sanford Hinderlie - Solo Flight

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:07
Size: 128.5 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[4:54] 1. Isle Of Paradise
[7:48] 2. Willow Weep For Me
[6:08] 3. Your Song
[5:13] 4. Phase Dance
[4:16] 5. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[5:02] 6. Greensleeves
[6:05] 7. In Flight
[6:05] 8. Summer Haze
[5:02] 9. Killer Joe
[5:30] 10. Amazing Grace

Hinderlie appears regularly in New Orleans and has performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He is known as a performer of MIDI/synthesizer music, and composed music for television, radio and films. Hinderlie has performed in the former Soviet Union, Japan, the Middle East and Europe. This recording represents his first solo venture on acoustic piano.

Solo Flight

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Mark Winkler - Jazz Life

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:29
Size: 84,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:44)  1. Jazz Life
(3:50)  2. In a Minor Key
(2:13)  3. Be-Bop
(4:03)  4. Coolcats
(4:09)  5. Keely
(4:58)  6. Hip To Your Tricks
(3:47)  7. Struttin'
(4:14)  8. Scattin' in the Moonlight
(4:26)  9. Play To Win

Known for his smooth, relaxed, laid-back sense of swing, Mark Winkler is a flexible vocalist/songwriter whose influences (direct or indirect) include Dave Frishberg, Mose Allison, Kenny Rankin, and Michael Franks (among others). The Los Angeles resident is comfortable in either jazz or pop settings; he has done his share of traditional pop and crossover jazz/smooth jazz work, but he can also handle straight-ahead jazz and bop. Whether a Winkler recording has a jazz improviser's perspective or more of a pop/crossover perspective has depended on different factors, including the label and the producer. Some of Winkler's work has leaned toward the Mose Allison/Dave Frishberg side of things; other times, his approach has been closer to Michael Franks or Kenny Rankin. And either way, Winkler generally maintains his smoothness; he has never been known as a forceful, overly aggressive, or in-your-face type of singer.

Born and raised in the L.A. area, Winkler launched his recorded career in the mid-'80s. After recording some albums for the independent, L.A.-based Chase Music Group (including Color of Love, Ebony Rain, and Hottest Night of the Year), the Southern Californian freelanced for various indie labels in the '90s (including Countdown and Chartmaker). Winkler didn't build a huge catalog in the '80s or '90s; when the early 2000s arrived, his catalog added up to about six albums. But he has kept busy doing a variety of other things, which have ranged from writing songs for other vocalists to theatrical projects. Winkler whose songs have been recorded by Liza Minnelli, Randy Crawford, Dianne Reeves, and others wrote the off-Broadway musical Naked Boys Singing! (which debuted in New York in 1999 and went on to play in a few others cities as well). In 2003, the Rhombus label released Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup, which found him paying tribute to the songwriter who gave us gems like "Route 66," "You're Looking at Me," and "Baby, Baby All the Time." ~ Bio https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/mark-winkler/id48811931#fullText

Jazz Life

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Kevin Mahogany - Portrait Of Kevin Mahogany

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:55
Size: 132,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:38)  1. I'm Walkin'
(4:11)  2. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
(6:01)  3. Yesterday I Had The Blues
(4:21)  4. Teach Me Tonight
(4:50)  5. I Can't Make You Love Me
(5:57)  6. Nature Boy
(4:51)  7. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
(6:06)  8. Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
(4:49)  9. Wild Honey
(5:19) 10. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
(4:46) 11. Laura

On his 4th album for Warner Bros., Kevin Mahogany pulls all the genre stops and pays tribute to those by whom he clearly has been influenced. There's that funky R & B with Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin" with a raucous sax and Larry Golding's organ making the whole thing go. As much as any track, "I Love You More Than You Ever Know" reveals a Mahogany debt to Joe Williams where he and Golding's organ (again) merge to bring a shouter's explication to this blues tune. For those who swoon rapturously with smooth jazz, you'll love "Wild Honey". Nat King Cole's great hit "Nature Boy"gets a jazz treatment, but on this one Mahogany sounds as if he's not convinced he's doing this tune justice. 

Maybe Nat King Cole's seminal version is running through his head. One of the classic rock anthems of our time, Otis Redding's "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay", has the deep Southern Soul sound to it that Redding attached to this popular song. As he continues his perusal of the popular music genre, Mahogany is joined by a slew of outstanding instrumentalists. Unfortunately, the copy of the CD I have for review doesn't link the artist with the track they play on. Since "Laura" is from the soundtrack of the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Michael Brecker's solo is recognizable. Golding is alone on organ. It's likely that on the smooth jazz cuts Kirk Whalum has the sax lead. Also Joe Lovano's tenor is quite recognizable on a languid "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". In an era where good male singers are at a premium, Mahogany is a star in rather a limited galaxy. ~ Dave Nathan http://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-portrait-of-kevin-mahogany-kevin-mahogany-warner-bros-review-by-dave-nathan.php

Personnel: Kevin Mahogany - Vocals;  Larry Goldings - Organ;  Peter Bernstein,  Larry Carlton - Guitar;  Kirk Whalum,  Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker - Saxophone;  Gregory Hutchinson- Drums; J ames Weidman,  Brad Mehldau , Bob James - Piano;  Rodney Whitaker,  Larry Grenadier - Bass

Portrait Of Kevin Mahogany

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Labek - Love At Last

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:08
Size: 145,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. You Don't Know What Love Is
(5:36)  2. Somewhere Between
(3:01)  3. What A Difference A Day Makes
(3:13)  4. September Song
(4:29)  5. It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This
(2:54)  6. What's New
(4:54)  7. You Won't Be Coming Back
(3:26)  8. Autumn In NY
(3:59)  9. For John
(4:07) 10. Cry Me A River
(4:13) 11. The Jazz In You
(2:40) 12. Last Night When We Were Young
(4:11) 13. The Man That Got Away
(2:40) 14. Your Caress
(4:51) 15. You Make Up For It All
(3:27) 16. Love At Last

Labek has been singing and performing since the age of nine. After winning a full scholarship to Cornell University, where she received an MFA, she moved to NYC. There, she pursued a performance career, starring in a number of repertory plays, working on parts in TV and on Broadway. Throughout her career she spent many hours developing her craft, preparing, and finally bringing all her experience and wisdom to recording her vocal artistry. She moved to Boston where she presently is part of the faculty at Berklee College of Music. The combination of life experiences; spiritual and musical development has produced an artist with fearless integrity, an original, with a powerful voice who must be heard. The choice of material is always meaningfully dealt with in terms of her individuality and passion for storytelling. She features world-class musicians who compliment her arrangements and she chooses new works with songwriters whose songs are so well crafted that some are inseparable from the selection of standards. ~ Bio http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/labek

Love At Last

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Milt Jackson - Explosive! Meets The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:15
Size: 149,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:54)  1. Bags' Groove
(7:41)  2. Since I Fell For You
(5:25)  3. Evidence
(3:28)  4. Back Home Again In Indiana
(5:23)  5. Deed I Do
(5:20)  6. The Nearness Of You
(5:36)  7. Major Deagan (Blues For Dan)
(5:48)  8. Emily
(6:53)  9. Along Came Betty
(6:00) 10. Revibal Meeting
(6:43) 11. Recovery

In a recording career that's spanned more than half a century, the masterful vibraphonist Milt Jackson has seldom been less than flawless. For Explosive!, his fifth disc on Quincy Jones's well-distributed Qwest label, Jackson is suitably teamed with the well-populated Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. It too, is no exception; offering a sterling collection of Jackson's pleasing blend of blues and ballads. Jackson has only recorded with big bands on a surprisingly infrequent basis (his Verve recordings with Ray Brown, two dates from the early 1960s on Riverside and some work in the late 70s with Count Basie's band come to mind). But he has plenty of connections to this music. Helmsman arranger/bassist John Clayton studied with Jackson's soul mate and frequent musical sparring partner, Ray Brown. Clayton has also served a rewarding apprenticeship in Basie's band and his tasteful, swinging arrangements recall the brassy soulfulness Quincy Jones offered to many a Basie session (and plenty others like Ray Charles too).

So Milt's at home here still swinging like he did back in the Forties (consider how he enlivens Monk's "Evidence" here and recall the vibraphonist was heard on the original all those years ago). If there's any gripe - and it's a true quibble - it's that Jackson seems like a guest on his own session. He swings in between the more dominating orchestra (with exceptional offerings from reedman Jeff Clayton, trumpeter Snooky Young and trombonist George Bohanon) and even sits out of "Deed I Do" and "The Nearness of You" altogether. But, as expected, he's above reproach and completely in charge of "Major Deegan," the inevitable "Bag's Groove," and the newer originals, "Revibal Meeting" and "Recovery." Explosive! could have been recorded in the late Fifties, at a time when jazz orchestras like this flourished. Today, it's positively out of the ordinary to hear a big star front a (real) big band. But it shows how ageless and timeless the concept is when it's done right as it is here. ~ Douglas Payne 

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/explosive-milt-jackson-warner-bros-review-by-douglas-payne.php

Players:Milt Jackson: vibes; John Clayton, Jr.: arco bass; Jeff Hamilton: drums; Jeff Clayton: alto sax, flute, clarinet; Byron Stripling, Eugene "Snooky" Young, Oscar Brasher, Clay Jenkins, Bobby Rodriguez: trumpet; Ira Nepus, George Bohanon, Isaac Smith: trombone; Maurice Spears: bass trombone; Keith Fiddmont: alto sax, flute, clarinet; Ricky Woodward, Charles Owens: tenor sax, clarinet; Lee Callet: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Bill Cunliffe: piano; Christoph Luty: bass; Jim Hershman: guitar.

Explosive! Milt Jackson Meets The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

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Emily McEwan - In The Wee Small Hours

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:42
Size: 89,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:46)  1. In The Wee Small Hours
(4:43)  2. Never Let Me Go
(4:43)  3. End of A Love Affair
(6:03)  4. Turn Out The Stars
(6:33)  5. Double Rainbow
(5:14)  6. Three Coins In The Fountain
(2:56)  7. Time After Time
(4:41)  8. Ae Fond Kiss

Her debut album of original compositions, Emily McEwan Highland Fling, was released in 2006 and the album was produced by Grammy-winning producer Paul Svenre. The music is a mix of jazz, Scottish folk and pop and has been compared to that of Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones and Burt Bacharach. Her second solo album, In This Place, released in 2010 on the label Inside Music, also produced by Pål Svenre. Emily McEwan also sings Scottish folk music and jazz, and has done concerts with, among others, Gunnar Bergsten, Nisse Sandstrom and Mathias Algotsson. She even has its own jazz trio and has performed at jazz clubs around Sweden, but also in a number of jazz festivals internationally as Stockholm Jazz Festival, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival and the Dubai Jazz Festival. Translate by google ~ Bio https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_McEwan

In The Wee Small Hours

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